Kapok Bacalar - Plant Based Hotel

The retreat at the magical Kapok Bacalar palace was absolutely incredible. The closeness to nature, the turquoise waters of the lagoon, the cozy and comfortable bungalows, and the unexpectedly delightful vegan food that was worthy of a Michelin star—all of it far exceeded my expectations.

Beautiful atmosphere and grounds, excellent food and super service. You can definitely tell that the food you are eating was planned and cooked by a real chef truly dedicated to his craft! The atmosphere truly reflects the Mayan land and history!

We wanted to find an opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle while we were in Mexico so we opted for Kapok based on its reviews. Unfortunately, I walked away ~50 bites. We noticed substantial amount of orange stain on the bottom of the curtain and bed sheet- the part that’s tucked under while the bed is made. I really wish we googled it right then to realize it’s pest stain. We expected some discomfort while being there, but pests weren’t a part of it. Bites on our body kept popping all over days after we left as though we were still getting fresh bites. We reached out to Kapok to rectify this issue and they insisted at they don’t have bed bugs. They said the stain was caused by termites and our bites are chaquiste mosquito bites. I don’t know of mosquito bites that would continue to pop up days after exposure. And even if the stain were from termites- why would that be okay to offer to guests? Overall extremely disappointed and would caution others to reconsider their booking or at last examine their room once they get there. Don’t go barefoot since it is in the woods and you could get stung by scorpions. Pros: tucked away, friendly staff, quiet Cons: tons of bites (whatever the culprit it should be a no), expensive vegan meals (USD150 for 2 for 1 day), room smelled like sewage, room filled with smoke when kitchen is cooking, scorpion in shower, no AC, shower not private enough for women, rough road - wouldn’t recommend taking a small car

This hotel has been built with great care & attention. The cabin structures are solid, beautifully enclosed and finished and still somehow they fit in with the environment. The staff were excellent and wow, the chef's vegan meals were superb. The location is quite deep off the main highway which is definitely a positive, as the location is silent apart from the sounds of nature and soft music in the dining area.

Pros- This place has beautiful rooms and shared spaces on an entirely unique property. It is far away from the crowds in the middle of the jungle on Laguna Bacalar. There was excellent vegan food served up to 3 times per day. The staff were friendly and quick to help set up tours or other wellness activities. They made a special meal for my son who was not feeling well. There are multiple ocean kayaks available to take out on the lagoon. It was an absolutely unforgettable stay. Cons/things to note- It is hard to get into the water at this site. Like much of Laguna Bacalar, it isn't really safe for kids or people with any mobility issues to safely access the water from the shore. Also this place is a 40 minute drive from Bacalar. I don't think you could get here without a rental car. I would highly recommend staying here.